Best Action RPGs Like Dark Souls

When one talks about some of the greatest games of the past decade, it goes without saying that Dark Souls would be an inevitable part of the conversation. Released during a time when AAA publishers were becoming more and more averse to adding a substantial level of challenge in their games, Dark Souls made a resounding wave in the gaming industry with its highly effective combination of old-school gaming along with modern sensibilities to create something truly unique and revolutionary to boot.

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It was only a given that this game would spawn a franchise, and the trilogy is considered by many to be one of the best video game franchises of all time. So, it's understandable that finishing Dark Souls would leave a void that most games simply won't be able to fill. However, the popularity of this franchise has spawned a number of Soulslikes, some of which are worth playing. So, for the people who wish to experience the same feelings they got when playing FromSoftware's modern classic for the first time, there are many great games like Dark Souls they can check out,

Updated December 10, 2024, by Hamza Haq: Dark Souls remains one of the most influential games of all time, spawning a whole new genre of games after it came out. Slow, methodical combat with a stamina bar, health pots, and respawning enemies were not things Dark Souls invented, but these concepts have become synonymous with the game nonetheless. Action RPGs that take inspiration from Dark Souls are extremely common, but identifying the ones worth the buy can be a bit difficult. It would be easy to choose the best and most prominent Soulslike for this list and call it a day, but ARPG is a big umbrella that a lot of different types of games fall under. These range from traditional Soulsikes with RPG elements, to action-adventure games, to 2D platformers, to isometric titles. Over time, elements of the Dark Souls formula have seeped into every subgenre imaginable, and the games that call themselves ARPGs are no different, even if they don’t fall directly under the moniker of Soulslike.

31 Blasphemous 2

An Excellent Sequel To A Hardcore, Gritty Metroidvania

Blasphemous 2 is a near-perfect sequel that fans of the first game absolutely adore. The improvements made to the formula coupled with the game doubling down on the gritty aesthetic that made it such a blast to play through was a huge win for the title as a whole, with Blasphemous 2 being a must-play for players who want to enjoy the best of what both the Metroidvania and Soulslike genre has to offer.

The game's dark themes are a blast to play through, with the bloody combat and engaging gameplay making this title a must-play in the eyes of many. As long as players don't have a queasy stomach, players will love what Blasphemous 2 brings to the table. It may have some flaws, but these can be ignored in the grand scheme of what this title strives to achieve, and does so successfully.

30 No Rest For The Wicked

An Action-RPG With A Suite Of Unique Gameplay Mechanics Tied Together In A Neat Bundle

Most people who loved Moon Studios' work on the two Ori games didn't expect the developers to pivot into a bold direction that combined the Soulslike genre with various elements to make for a tantalizing combination. It may still be in Early Access, but the amazing storytelling and gameplay elements present in No Rest for the Wicked have made it clear that this title has a ton of promise that is just waiting to be unleashed.

The entire reason why this title is in Early Access is to ensure that its myriad of gameplay systems work together in harmony, and players know that there's still a way to go before the game enjoys a proper 1.0 release. As long as developers are open to fan feedback, they'll develop a game that can potentially be the biggest indie release in 2024 by a country mile.

29 Another Crab's Treasure

Looks Like A Joke Game But Is Surprisingly Tight And Engaging

Most people assumed that Another Crab's Treasure was nothing more than a joke game trying to capitalize on the Soulslike moniker to earn a quick buck. However, it didn't take long after the title's release for players to realize that this title has more to it than most people would assume. A single boss fight is all it takes to show just how tight and engaging the combat system is.

Players must hone their combat skills and not underestimate a single enemy if they wish to get through the many challenging encounters in the genre. Another Crab's Treasure may be pretty lighthearted, but that shouldn't be an excuse for players to switch off unless they want to endure one humiliating death after another.

28 Blasphemous

A Metroidvania Soulslike With A Dark, Brooding Aesthetic

The grotesque imagery in Blasphemous is one of the first things that players will notice in this brutal side-scrolling action game that takes no prisoners. This game is not for the faint of heart, with its religious imagery adding a ton of atmosphere to what is easily one of the most unique and engaging video games fans of Dark Souls can check out.

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The reliance on dodge rolling can make certain bosses slightly easier to defeat, but that shouldn't take away from the challenge of some of Blasphemous' tougher encounters. The instant death spike traps can become annoying after a point, but that's a small price to pay for players who will fall in love with this game's gritty and mature aesthetic.

27 The Surge 2

A Huge Improvement On The First Game, Making For What Many People Call The Best Sci-Fi Soulslike

Deck13 has been reviled time and time again as pretenders to the throne that FromSoftware sits on following their immense success with their Soulsborne games. 2013's Lords of the Fallen is widely considered one of the first Soulslike games ever made, and many people found the combat to be a bit too stiff for their liking. Following this title, Deck13 continued to release more titles in the same vein, perfecting their take on this genre.

This eventually led to the release of The Surge 2, a game following a tepid first attempt to make a sci-fi Soulslike. In comparison, this title is touted by many as a near-perfect sequel, featuring excellent level design, combat, and storytelling. The boss fights can be a bit lacking, but most players won't mind once they get lost in the riveting atmosphere of this game and how it does justice to the legacy of Dark Souls.

26 Lords of the Fallen (2023)

A Traditional Soulslike With A Unique Twist

While Lords of the Fallen appears a run-of-the-mill Soulslike at first glance, it is one that puts its own spin on the genre in a way that’s unique enough to allow it to stand out from the crowd of similar titles that have come out in recent years. Still, players looking for a game that closely follows the Dark Souls formula will find themselves right at home in Lords of the Fallen, though it has more similarities to DS3 than DS1.

The core mechanic that makes Lords of the Fallen different is the interplay between the Umbral and Axiom realms, two worlds that exist layered on top of each other. Any time a player dies in the Axiom realm, instead of returning to a Vestige (the game’s version of the Bonfire), they revive in the Umbral realm, a world of the dead and spirits. Only after dying in this world do they lose their souls and return to the Vestige. Multiple traversal puzzles and secret items are hidden in the Umbral, giving players plenty of reasons to dip in and out between the two realms.

25 Hogwarts Legacy

Combat Requires Swift Dodges And A Few Hits Is All It Takes For The Fifth-Year To Breathe His Last

Most people would find it odd to consider Hogwarts Legacy to be a game that Dark Souls vets will like. If anything, this game has more in common with the Arkham series, but most people who have checked out Hogwarts Legacy for themselves know just how challenging this game can get if players don't time their dodges and blocks properly, something that this title shares in common with FromSoftware's action RPGs.

Combat is easily one of Hogwarts Legacy's strongest aspects that, along with its beautiful rendition of the Harry Potter universe, makes this title such an easy recommendation for fans of the magical universe. There's a long way to go before this title's formula is perfected, but fans of skill-based combat coupled with a wealth of unique and powerful spells will love what Hogwarts Legacy brings to the table.

24 Path of Exile 2

An Isometric ARPG With A Soulslike Twist

An isometric ARPG similar to Diablo 4, Path of Exile 2 is the much-anticipated sequel to the extremely popular ARPG, PoE. It inherits many of the core elements from its predecessor like an absolutely gigantic skill tree, multiple classes and subclasses, leveled loot tables, and huge, procedurally generated maps filled with monsters to kill. The graphics have been massively upgraded, the skill system has been revamped, the crafting system has been stripped down and simplified, and a lot of quality-of-life features have been added to make the game feel significantly different from the original, even if the building blocks are the same.

But by far, the biggest change in Path of Exile 2 is the combat, which has been tweaked to become drastically more challenging. As if straight out of the Dark Souls playbook, button-mashing is an easy ticket to an early death because when monsters attack, it hurts. While players can eventually get to the point of clearing the screen in a matter of seconds in the late game, the journey to get there is fraught with peril. Dodging and blocking are core mechanics, and boss fights are brutal affairs that often require multiple tries.

23 Remnant 2

Soulslike Third-Person Shooter With Roguelike Elements

Remnant: From the Ashes was an ambitious mix of third-person shooting, roguelike elements, and Soulslike combat that was a huge success. The sequel had some huge shoes to fill... And Gunfire Games didn't disappoint. They developed a sequel that was bigger and better in almost every department.

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Level layouts weren't the only things that switched out in each run — now, NPCs, quests, bosses, and other such elements were randomized in each run, making its roguelike design more apparent. This, coupled with engaging combat and amazing visuals, makes for a sequel that any fan of the first game should check out.

22 Lies Of P

Bloodborne-Inspired Soulslike With Intense Bosses

Lies of P is a game that came out of nowhere and rode the Bloodborne hype train, wowing players with its amazing combat, great visuals, and unique aesthetic. As a result, many players couldn't wait to get their hands on this title... And the game certainly didn't disappoint!

The game's over-the-top nature can work against it sometimes, with the exhaustive nature of the title's many bosses feeling rather uninspiring after a point. However, that's a small gripe in what is otherwise a masterful experience that Soulslike fans should try out!